Ok guys I am currently looking at a few cars, an 01 I30/maxima/ 02 I35/Maxima and a 97 SE maxima. From the pictures the body on the 97 SE is immaculate for the year. The guy says he is the second owner but bought it from a friend where it sat for 2 years. It needs a pass wheel bearing, alternator, powersteering hose, gonna check it out tomarro. 185K miles for $1200, has a new battery, just kinda seeing if it will be a money put later on being that it sat for a while.

 

anything is worth what a person is willing to pay for it.
Also depends on your mechanical skill level.
I bet you could talk him down.
But if the body is that clean i would go for it.

I paid $600 for mine from a police impound auction and was will to deal with any problem my maxima had if any.
I still have the car 2 years later its my DD
Worst come to worst you part it out and make your money back.

 

thanks for the response man, im kinda excited about it, I can do most of the work myself except prob the alternator, but He says I can come by today drive it and check it out, Probably talk him down some also. Ive always wanted the SE with the larger wheels, and a sunroof ,stiffer springs,

 

with the age and mileage, i'll bet there's more wrong with it than meets the eye.just take it to a mechanic you trust and have him look it over, i know sitting like that is bad for the seals. take your time and use your card face.

 

Yeah you have a point, I went to look at it today, needs wheel bearings on front, body is nice inside is nice, typical SE cloth interior. Power steering is shot, cant tell if it is the pump itself or if its a hose no fluid in resorvior. He had the battery charged enough to drive it around. Engine is really quiet and gears shift smooth on transmission. Did notice the belt for alternator and A/C compressor was off, crank pully has a slight wobble to it, may have eaten the belt lol. But It drives, I offered $900 but may offer a little less since i cant confirm that the a/c works ect, But for the mileage it seems to run good.

 

Sounds like more repairs than the car is worth.

 

Yeah thats kinda alot of repairs expecially if the power steering pump itself is bad, but are they known to go bad even with it sitting for a while? I know the crank pulley will run about $50, plus belts, wheel bearings have to be pressed or can get from a salvage yard, alernator not too bad of a repair. ill have to really take my time and decide this on this one, Its hot and have to make sure the ac works

 

Just to confirm did some of the 97 SEs come with the analog odometer, or they made the digital ones in 98? I know its a 97 by the cupholders, the red guages, tail lights wheels, and grill though. I was just saying that because their is a guy around here selling 95 maxs advertising that they are 99s lol.

 

my 97 se has the analog odometer but i think some of the later production ones are digital

not 100% on that tho

 

Oh ok Just wanted to make sure, But i believe the guy is being honest with me about the repairs, will be my first time buying from a private seller. I just want to make sure there are no other hidden repairs that i cant see like major oil leaks ect. Motor looks pretty clean and no rusty areas.

 

dude, look in the door jam at the metal plate, it'll have the production date on it.

 

I know where the production date is, ive had 3 different maximas from 3 gens, just didnt know when the digital odo came out.

 

98 and 99 Maxima/I30 are exclusively digital odo (plus newer auto climate control) 4th gens. 97s were all analog.

 

ok kool